RESUMO
Aim To observe the effects of the total fla-vonoids of scutellaria barbataon ( TFSB ) on high-fat feeding ApoE gene deficiency mice in early atheroscle-rosis ( AS ) and its underlying mechanisms. Methods 40 ApoE-/ -male mice were divided into five groups:model group, SIM group and L-TFSB, M-TFSB, H-TFSB group, 5 C57BL/6J mice were selected as nor-mal control group. All mice in experimental group were fed with high-lipid diet for 4 weeks and all mice were killed after 8 weeks. H&E staining was used to observe morphology of aorta. Blood rheometer was used to ex-amine plasm viscosity and whole blood viscosity. Fully automatic biochemical analyser was used to detect the serum levels of TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C. The ex-pression levels of PLTP and VE in serum were meas-ured by ELISA. The expression levels of PLTP and FXR in liver were examined by Western blot. Results The model was established successfully. TFSB groups could improve the aorta AS morphology of model mice and significantly reduce the serum levels of TG, TC and LDL-C, while increase the level of HDL-C ( P hematocrit value, plasma viscosity and whole blood vis-cosity of AS model mice significantly and had statistical significance when compared with model group ( P <0. 01 ) . The expression levels of PLTP of serum were reduced significantly when compared with model group ( P <0. 01 ) . We also found that the expression of PLTP was in negative correlation with VE ( r = -0. 675,P<0. 01). M-TFSB and H-TFSB group could decrease the expressions of PLTP and FXR of liver when compared with model group ( P <0. 01 ) . Con-clusion TFSB may exert its anti-AS effect partly through inhibiting the levels of FXR and PLTP of ApoE-/ -mice, increasing the level of VE, regulating blood lipids, improving blood rheology and reducing the damage of AS in mice.